Blackwood, a 6-foot-5, 195-pounder, is among Hernando County’s best athletes. At receiver, the transfer from Gulf had 82 receiving yards and caught the game-winning touchdown against River Ridge. Blackwood totaled 37 tackles and a team-best five sacks at defensive end and also spent time at quarterback.

Blackwood is also a standout basketball player who became a national name in recruiting circles in middle school. He ranked second on the team with 8.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game this winter to help the Sharks to their first ever appearance at state. ESPN puts him among the country’s top 25 power forward prospects for the class of 2014.

Blackwood’s offer came from UMass assistant Allen Suber, the Minutemen’s receivers coach and former Tampa Catholic quarterback, but UMass will likely look at him at defensive end. His basketball teammate, center Tyler Bergantino, signed with the Minutemen this season. UMass has also offered NCT junior running back Matt Breida.